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Support for Bill Burt If you feel everything is going along just fine in the Justice of the Peace field in Missoula County, then you should vote for the status quo in the upcoming election. But, if you feel common-sense, compassion, integrity, and fairness should be applied to a much greater extent than it is now, you should consider voting for Bill Burt for Justice of the Peace in Department #1. He has all the traits and background that would enable him to utilize the current jail diversion program without endangering our communities by...
Housing project falls short The Trinity Housing project on Mullan next to the Missoula County Detention Center has not lived up to its promises and expectations. This was supposed to be a collaboration between the city, the county and HomeWord. HomeWord brought in Blue Line Developers for their expertise. Missoula County Commissioners agreed to gift almost 5 acres of county taxpayer owned land adjacent to the Missoula County Detention Center to make this project affordable. The land was purchased with taxpayer funded bonds to build the...
Be a hero to dogs young and old October means pumpkin spice lattes, fall temperatures and leaves turning color, but it’s also a chance to be a hero to a dog in need. For thousands of years, dogs have been our best friends, our protectors and often our personal heroes, improving and even saving lives. That is why each October for more than 40 years, American Humane has encouraged animal lovers to repay the favor by adopting a dog from a local shelter or rescue group during its annual Adopt-a-Dog Month®. While adopting a puppy or younger dog is...
Open letter from Save Holland Lake to Kurt Steele, Supervisor Flathead National Forest Dear Mr. Steele, Save Holland Lake, an ad-hoc coalition of concerned citizens advocating for the pristine lake, surrounding ecosystem and our public land, respectfully requests that you extend the public comment period for the proposed Holland Lake expansion project beyond October 7, 2022. In your initial scoping document you state, “all activities would occur within the existing 15 acre permitted area.” The language surrounding the “15-acre” Special Use Per...
As best I remember it, over 40 years ago, me and my cutt’n partner Butch was coming down from Alaska. Turned off in Albany, Oregon headed for the sleepy little cowboy logg’n town called Sisters. Butch had friends there. Took note of the scenery over the Santiam pass, noted in the distance Mt. Jefferson wilderness and the mountain majesty thereabouts. Was a few years since Butch was back and all of a sudden was big real estate developments Butch whistled, “What happened?” Last time he saw it--it was a meadow, horses and cows. As I drove through...
Montanans’ constitutional right to privacy and a clean and healthful environment will be threatened this legislative session. Many of us living in House District 92 fiercely value our privacy and depend on the integrity of our environment. The Blackfoot River and its tributaries flow through this District, we know the importance of clean, cold, complex and connected waters. On my family’s ranch, four generations have benefited from and worked to protect a state of mind – freedom, opportunity, responsibility – that is Montana. Gary Stein u...
An out-of-state commercial recreation corporation, POWDR Inc., has proposed to expand the Holland Lake Lodge on public land and convert it into a destination resort. The current lodge is a locally run seasonal operation from May 15 to Oct. 15 that occupies 15 acres of public land under USFS permit on the shores of Holland Lake in the Swan Valley. POWDR Corporation calls itself an “adventure lifestyle company.” It is one of the largest ski resort owners in the US and owns 10 massive mountain resorts. It claims, “POWDR has an incredibly uniqu...
In autumn, that mournful season that stifles the lighthearted sounds of summer, larch turn golden and, against the Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine, light up the Seeley-Swan Valley like a votive-filled cathedral in Rome. It’s something to behold as you stand in awe of the magic wand of nature, whose invisible hand has crafted an infrastructure that rapacious people want to market to a public hungry for natural experiences touted by Hollywood. At Holland Lake, we’re seeing a docudrama (like TV’s Yellowstone) play out with the U.S. Forest Servi...
All elections are important, right? This one seems particularly so - ballots will be mailed Oct. 14. Election Day is Nov. 8. Sometimes we ignore midterm elections - everyone is busy. However, if we don’t pay attention, our Montana State Constitution could be overturned by extremists. The right to privacy is something we all hold dear. We love our public lands. Let’s make sure we don’t turn Montana into a one-party monopoly and a rich-man’s playground. I urge you to vote for Gary Stein to represent YOU, the citizens of HD92. He has served...
In the Sept. 8, 2022 issue of the Seeley Swan Pathfinder there was an ad run by Senator Blasdel and Representative Galt of the Montana State Legislature. It was asking for the opposition to national Senate Bill 2992. I went looking for the bill and it looks to me like it is trying to protect your privacy and my privacy from large Internet companies. The first sentence says, “To provide that certain discriminatory conduct by covered platforms shall be unlawful…” Blasdel and Galt suggest SB2992 breaks up successful companies; I do not read it th...
During my law enforcement career, I served in many capacities. The last seven years were spent as an administrator serving as Patrol and Administrative Captain. It was during these years that the Jail Diversion Master Plan (JDMP) was developed, something that we at the Sheriff’s Office are proud to have been part of. Jail diversion was created out of necessity. It was something wanted by the public, needed for overcrowding issues and became essential when COVID was at its peak. The purpose of jail diversion is to provide alternatives to i...
Right now, as I am writing this piece, Aug. 3 at 10 a.m., the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office is engaged in a standoff just north of the Wye with at least two people that were discovered committing a residential burglary. These two men are well known to local law enforcement, the courts, prosecutor’s office and are regulars at the Missoula jail (aka Career Criminals). Most people will probably never hear about this incident because it is just commonplace anymore. What is also not unusual about this is that one of the people involved in the...
Thank you to some community members, Kind hearts are the gardeners Kind thoughts are the roots Kind words are the blossoms Kind deeds are the fruits Kirpal Singh A belated Thank You to all who gave me support through your words and unexpected gift card. But most of all, you noticed and appreciated the bit of beauty I planted down town. Through hail, heat, human and deer, I vow to plant it without fear. With gratitude, Ginger Williams...
I must respond to the letter from Don Larson re: two recent Supreme Court decisions printed in the July 7 issue of the Seeley Swan Pathfinder. Both decisions were exactly the same, they merely defined what was in the Constitution, therefore in the purview of the FEDERAL government, and what was not in the Constitution, therefore left to the jurisdiction of the people (STATES). Roe -- simply put, did not “trash” (as Mr. Larson states) the right of abortion. It only stated it is not a constitutional right contained in the Constitution, but a stat...
The primarily male U.S. Supreme Court has recently determined American women cannot decide for themselves what to do with their bodies. It trashed their reproductive rights while fiercely defending (primarily male) rights to carry an AR 15. Let’s bring this discussion down to the local level. I would very much like to know where my legislative representatives Representative Mike Hopkins and Senator Shannon O’Brien, stand on reproductive rights and gun control? What legislative actions will they initiate, defend or oppose at the Montana Leg...
Dear Seeley Lake, I know you all like to celebrate the freedom you have with fireworks. Have you gone around your neighborhood and asked if anyone is a combat veteran and checked to see if fireworks negatively affect them? If you truly do value your freedom, these are the people to thank. The funny thing is, a lot of us have a Pavlovian response to the sounds fireworks produce and it’s one of the worst things to experience. It’s a little misdirected to purchase novelty explosive devices to set off if you are thankful for freedom. Buy a she...
I am writing in response to the Mountain Lakes Presbyterian Church Leaderships’ letter to the editor from the June 23 issue of the Pathfinder which purports to be a theological response to Pastor Jim Johnson’s “Biblical perspective.” The leadership claims it “dutifully” albeit “reluctantly” was stepping into the Biblical debate. It appears to this reader, however, that the leadership actually jumped at the opportunity to attack Pastor Johnson’s Biblical position without citing any Biblical precedent in support of their position. Rather,...
A number of people -- private citizens, elected legislators and state staff -- achieved a quiet accomplishment recently. During the 2021 Legislative Session, two bills (SB 262 and SB 263) were passed to revise the duties of the Forest Lands Taxation Advisory Committee (FLTAC) and charge that advisory committee to examine and modernize the tax rate on Forest Land (Class 10) properties. Members of FLTAC have been meeting since July 9, 2021. Members include four forestry experts appointed by both parties of Montana’s Senate and House, along w...
When discussing the topic of the sins of others we need to take a very humble stance. None of us are without sin and we all require the mercy of the sacrifice for sin that Jesus became. Fortunately, God inspired many scriptures to describe what sin is. So, we are without excuse. We’re all in the same boat, dependent totally on His salvation through the Christ event. We most certainly have, will or do find ourselves somewhere in the following “short list” of sin. “Sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostili...
If we expect respect then we should respect others, especially God, who is due our utmost praise and thanksgiving for His amazing commands that are not burdensome but awesome, since they are good for our souls. First commandment, we are to love God above everyone and everything else. This means we are to obey all of His commandments, not just the ones we choose. Second, we are to love all people by being merciful to their needs of body and soul such as providing food, clothing and shelter and charitably admonishing their sins, instructing them...
In response to the letter to the editor by Jim Johnson that appeared in the June 16 Pathfinder, I believe the very fact he chose to write that article reveals his church doesn’t welcome LGBTQ individuals. We are all created by God. God will be our final judge, not me....
I am writing in response to “A Biblical perspective” printed in the June 16th Pathfinder’s Letter to the Editor by Jim Johnson. First, the “letter to the editor” column may not be the most appropriate place to have a theological debate. However, since my colleague has opened that door, I dutifully, though reluctantly, step through to respond to the unsubstantiated allegations and cultural assumptions portrayed as “a Biblical perspective.” Second, the very notion that “pride culture” can be reduced to one thing is nonsense. Third, contrary t...
An image of the Pride Flag started an article on June 9th that needs to have Biblical truth shined on it. True love “does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth,” (1 Corinthians 13:6). The Pride culture revels in unrighteousness and rejects the existence of truth in God’s Word. True love is based on the Word of God as of the Bible. Pride month, as celebrated by the sexually humanistic, anti-God culture of today, endorses and flaunts sinful behavior right in God’s face. The activities associated with Pride month target public...
The day after my wife Kathy died, which would have been her 66th birthday, as morning rose the Sky wasn’t as Big. With the utmost respect for all of you, for me Kathy was Montana. I just didn’t realize it until she was gone. It’s the things we take for granted that we miss the most when they’re gone. I want to thank everyone for all the support and help you gave Kathy and also all the support you gave me when I was the Seeley Lake Fire Chief. We, as a community, went through a lot together but it’s time for me to move on. I’ll be leaving See...
This message is for the ears of all the atheists living in America, as more and more of you teach your children that there is no God. And they, in turn, teach their children there is no God. The world is becoming a more violent place. Just look back at the last few years and you will see I am right. I don’t go to church on Sunday – I go to church every day. The last time I rode my snowmobile to the top of Ovando Mountain I touched the face of God. I graduated from the Ovando Grade School in 1955. People came from miles away to attend the Chr...
